Alaric Fox, Enfield's police chief, said a chase into Massachusetts that included officers from his department was 'in accord with the department's policy.' The pursuit was over following a fatal crash in Longmeadow, Massachusetts.

Gerard Donnelly
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Enfield’s police chief said it appears that his officers who pursued a suspect across state lines into Massachusetts were following department protocol.

On Friday, police in Enfield began to follow a truck driven by a man they believe was intoxicated. That vehicle ended up colliding with a mail carrier in Longmeadow, Massachusetts.

The drivers of both vehicles died.

“Our preliminary assessment is that the involved officers’ conduct was in accord with the department’s policy, although we will be conducting both a supervisory critique and analysis and an internal affairs investigation in this matter,” said Enfield Police Chief Alaric Fox in a statement.

Fox did confirm that the department does have a policy on pursuits. But, he wouldn’t address questions related to the policy nor would he agree to an interview.

Fox said the Connecticut State Police are investigating the part of the incident that happened south of the border, while Massachusetts police are looking into what happened in Longmeadow.

The Massachusetts State Police referred Connecticut Public Radio to the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office for comment. That office wasn't immediately available for comment.

In the 15 months before he pulled over Anthony Jose “Chulo” Vega Cruz, Wethersfield police officer Peter Salvatore made over 320 traffic stops — the third highest in a department that already stands out for how often it pulls over people of color.

But while Salvatore initiated the stop that left the 18-year-old dead, it was another officer, Layau Eulizier Jr., who fired the fatal shots on April 20. Eulizier had been employed by the Wethersfield Police Department for roughly eight months. In that short time, Eulizier logged 266 traffic stops — more than most Wethersfield officers make in an entire year, according to a new data analysis by Connecticut Public Radio.